Episode 201 is the first episode of Season 2, and for non book-readers it was a WTH moment. About the first 35 or 40 minutes are spent showing Claire’s not-so-happy reunion with Frank after she goes back through the stones. The remainder of the episode up until the last half of the season finale is told in flashback.
“I made a promise, and I must keep it.”
The opening scene has Claire having just gone through the stones at Craig Na Dun. She didn’t want to leave Jamie and return to her life with Frank, but she made Jamie a promise and was bound to keep it. This isn’t a favorite scene, but it is a very important one, and gives us an idea of Claire’s emotional state and what we might expect from future scenes depicting the struggles in the Randall marriage.
Again, this isn’t a favorite scene, but it does illustrate the differences between the attitudes of Jamie and Frank. Initially Frank is upset to learn of Claire’s pregnancy, but since he is sterile he agrees to raise Jamie’s baby. He does have conditions, though, and this is where we see the contrast between Jamie and Frank. Frank as conditions attached to his reunion with Claire: 1) they will raise the child as their own, withholding the true paternity from the child; and 2) Claire must let Jamie go.
Jamie never made that demand of Claire during their marriage. He never told Claire she had to forget about Frank. However, Claire agrees with Frank’s conditions. She agrees to let Jamie go, not because Frank, in his selfishness demands it, but because she had promised Jamie she would. She did it for Jamie, not Frank.
I’m not a huge Frank fan (no offense, Tobias), but I must give him his due. He is at least willing to raise Jamie’s child as his own, and from all accounts in the book (Voyager, primarily), he was a good father, if not a stellar husband.
Back in time
To escape the rumors, gossip, and criticisms of of their situation, Frank and Claire move to Boston where he has accepted a professorship at Harvard. The transition back in time to Jamie two hundred years earlier in France occurs when Claire steps off the plane in Boston.
It was very hard for Claire and us to watch Frank burn her clothes. They were a symbol of his life with Jamie, and Frank would not have allowed her to keep them.
Secrets, Lies, and Deceptions
For the remainder of the season until the finale, Jamie and Claire embark on a mission of secrets, lies, and deceptions in an effort to thwart the Jacobite rising and avoid the tragedy of Culloden.
Unfortunately, and much to Murtagh’s chagrin, Jamie and Claire must keep their secret from him as well. That must have been especially hard for them because of their close relationship with him. It must also have been difficult when it was necessary to deceive Jared, Jamie’s wine merchant cousin. However, the deception was necessary for the requisite introductions to the Jacobite leaders in France.
“I’m sorry I doubted ye, brother.”
“I wouldn’t change you to save the world.”
This is absolutely a favorite scene. It doesn’t take Claire long to get them into trouble when they arrive at Le Havre, France. Because she diagnosed smallpox on Comte St. Germain’s ship, the ship and its cargo are burned. He is furious and vows revenge.
Instead of being angry with Claire, Jamie simply comments that life with her is never dull, but that he wouldn’t change her to save the world.
Perhaps Jamie wouldn’t change a thing about Claire, but they have made a dangerous enemy, and surely there is plenty about Claire that the Comte will want to change.
Once on their journey to collect rents, it isn’t long before Claire begins to feel isolated from the Highlanders. She is concerned that their use of Gaelic represents an effort to exclude her, and she reminds herself that being on the road would be her opportunity to escape. Jamie notices her unease and comes to her. She asks him if the Highlanders hate her. Jamie reassures her but admits that they don’t trust her. Then she asks him if he thinks she is a spy for the British. He tells her, “No, but I do think there are things ye’re not telling us, and I know you tried to run during the Gathering. It’s on your mind still, plain and clear.”
Once again, Claire’s righteous indignation causes conflict, and Jamie comes to her rescue when Angus does not take kindly to being called a thief. Claire believes Dougal is not only collecting rent from clan members, but is using Jamie’s scars to garner sympathy from them in order to line his own pockets.
Claire’s healing skills had begun to give her some credibility and help build a measure of trust with Dougal and Colum. However, when she confronts Ned about her suspicions, that trust quickly dissolves. It isn’t until another collection night that Claire realizes Dougal is raises the extra money to finance a Jacobite rebellion.
This is my single most favorite scene from the episode. The collection party stops at an inn for the night. While the men drink downstairs in the tap room, Claire retires to her room upstairs. A noise outside her door leads her to investigate the source of the disturbance. She finds Jamie just outside the door after she steps on him. For fear that the drunken men might wonder upstairs, he again intends to protect her by sleeping at her door. She offers to let him come inside, but he fears it “would ruin [her] reputation.” Amused, Claire instead offers him her blanket, “If it isn’t too scandalous,” and he bashfully accepts. The sexual tension in this scene can be cut with Jamie’s dirk. (Yes, pun intended.)
The next morning during breakfast when Claire tries to convince Ned that history will never again record the name of a Stuart king, a group of rowdy locals are heard referring to Claire as a “Hoor.” Ironically, Angus, who had previously drawn his knife on her, is the first to throw a punch in defense of her honor. After the fight, Murtagh explains to Claire that as she is a guest of the Mackenzie, “We can insult ye, but God help any other man that does.” Even Dougal joins in the fight. This represents a turning point in Claire’s relationship with the Mackenzies. A bond is strengthened and she is defended as one of their own.
Rupert regales the group with a story about his experience with two women in bed, where they become jealous and begin arguing over who he will “swipe” first. “Can you believe it?” he jokes. Claire replies, “I believe your left hand gets jealous of your right. That’s about all I believe.” After a brief silent pause, Rupert breaks into a hardy laugh, the Highlanders following suit. “Ah, you’re a witty one,” Jamie says. Amazed at what he has heard from Claire, Rupert says, “I’ve never heard the woman make a joke!” Claire responds, “There’s a first time for everything.” Clearly the entire groups appreciates the moment, and the bond with the Highlanders is now solidified.
